Six reasons why Sunday's game is a must-win

October 5, 2013 11:40 PM

Photo: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

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The Houston Texans are 2-2 and the fans are restless as the team heads to San Francisco for a Sunday night game on national television. So we picked six reasons (get it?), why Sunday is a must-win game for the Texans. less

The Houston Texans are 2-2 and the fans are restless as the team heads to San Francisco for a Sunday night game on national television. So we picked six reasons (get it?), why Sunday is a must-win game for the ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

The Houston Texans are 2-2 and the fans are restless as the team... Photo-5272050.71395 - Beaumont Enterprise

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1. For the ultimate prize

For the last two seasons, the Texans have put much pressure on themselves, talking about the Super Bowl before the seasons even began. Remember the Super Bowl or bust talk? That wasn't started by the media. Those were direct comments from the players. On Wednesday, running back Arian Foster still said the Texans were the best team in the NFL. Here are the facts: There have been 47 Super Bowl champions. Six started the season 2-2 or worse. That's 12 percent. Those six champs: 2007 Giants, 2003 Patriots, 2001 Patriots, 1993 Cowboys, 1981 49ers, 1980 Raiders. The quarterbacks on those teams: Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Brady, Troy Aikman, Joe Montana and Jim Plunkett. Perhaps those gents are a step above Mr. Schaub. less

1. For the ultimate prize

For the last two seasons, the Texans have put much pressure on themselves, talking about the Super Bowl before the seasons even began. Remember the Super Bowl or bust talk? That ... more

Photo: Seth Wenig, Associated Press

1. For the ultimate prize
For the last two seasons, the Texans... Photo-5272051.71395 - Beaumont Enterprise

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2. For the playoffs

OK, OK, OK. You're tired of talking about the Super Bowl. We get it. "We're lucky if we make the playoffs now," a common refrain from fans. Well ... those numbers aren't all that pretty either. Since 1990, 36.2 percent of playoff teams started 2-2 or worse. Though, four of the playoff teams from last year started the season 2-3. Of course, none of them won the Super Bowl. less

2. For the playoffs

OK, OK, OK. You're tired of talking about the Super Bowl. We get it. "We're lucky if we make the playoffs now," a common refrain from fans. Well ... those numbers aren't all that pretty ... more

Yes, it's a real race this year. The Colts and Titans are 3-1, with the Texans a game back at 2-2. We won't discuss the winless Jaguars. Notice below, the schedules for the next few weeks. This is a critical five-game stretch for the division race. The division cannot be won during this stretch, but it could be lost. And getting off to an strong start in San Francisco is important for the Texans.
Colts: vs. Seahawks (4-0), at Chargers (2-2), vs. Broncos (4-0), bye, at Texans (2-2)
Titans: vs. Chiefs (4-0), at Seahawks (4-0), vs. 49ers (2-2), bye, at Rams (1-3)
Texans: At 49ers (2-2), vs. Rams (1-3), at Chiefs (4-0), bye, vs. Colts (3-1) less

3. For the AFC South race

Yes, it's a real race this year. The Colts and Titans are 3-1, with the Texans a game back at 2-2. We won't discuss the winless Jaguars. Notice below, the schedules for the next few ... more

Players may say they don't care how fans react -- burning jerseys, leaving early, etc. But they see it. After all, it was hard to miss all of the empty seats at the end of the Seahawks' win at Reliant. But if the Texans fall to 2-3 with a loss in San Francisco, the next home game against the Rams could be ugly. Imagine a 2-3 Texans team falling behind early to a 1-4 Rams team at Reliant. Imagine a Matt Schaub interception. Now ... imagine the boos. Yikes. less

4. For the fans

Players may say they don't care how fans react -- burning jerseys, leaving early, etc. But they see it. After all, it was hard to miss all of the empty seats at the end of the Seahawks' win at ... more

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

4. For the fans
Players may say they don't care how fans... Photo-5272054.71395 - Beaumont Enterprise

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5. For themselves

A three-game losing streak would be absolutely brutal to the Texans in many ways. First, no Super Bowl champion has ever started the season with two wins and followed it with three losses. More important, though, is confidence. They may say they have all of the confidence in the world, but ... come on. If you have three straight rough days at work, your confidence will be shaken. less

5. For themselves

A three-game losing streak would be absolutely brutal to the Texans in many ways. First, no Super Bowl champion has ever started the season with two wins and followed it with three losses. ... more

Matt Schaub is saying everything right. The players are saying everything right. The coaches are saying everything right. Everyone in the organization has Matt Schaub's back. But Schaub has thrown a pick-six in three straight games (just the fourth time that's happened in the last 20 years). As Sports Illustrated's Peter King said: "I don’t care what they say: The Houston Texans have to be having grave doubts about quarterback Matt Schaub’s ability to win a Super Bowl." Matt Schaub needs a good game. And Sunday's good game would come in the national spotlight -- shutting up the critics from Houston and throughout the nation. less

6. For Matt Schaub

Matt Schaub is saying everything right. The players are saying everything right. The coaches are saying everything right. Everyone in the organization has Matt Schaub's back. But Schaub has ... more